The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-16

and subject to injury and delay No excuse
was given for it except that IL was only sent to
him two days before the close of the session. but
this is the course that had been pursued with
his predecessors without exception, aud tbs
complaint of want OF time TO read the bill Is en-
trely fallacious, because he had the same
knowledge of the contents OF the bill that every
member of Congress who voted upon it had, for
tho daily reports are laid upon his table, and he
had at his command the whole corps of engi-
neers to advise him at any moment OF Its pre-
else provisions. and long before the bill was
sent to him every provision practically had
been acted upon by both houses.
IT was said In the canvass of 1884 that they
wanted to turn the rascals ont 1t was repre-
sented that frauds and populations were going
on IN the republican administration, and that
the books shouid be examined and the thieves
turned out The first act of the new admins
tration was to examine the books and they have
been engaged IN that duty ever since; but the
books were found to be correct. There were
rascals to turn out. and, unlike what occurred
in previous Democratic ADMINISTRATIONS there
was not financial officer of the government in
any department. of 1t but what settled his
accounts without delay. and paid over the money
found due. There not single defaulter,
thief or rascal to turn out We have more
Democratic county treasurers defaulters in
Ohio than we have had in the vast treasury
service Of the United States. What compli-
ment this to the Republican administrations and
what a comment it is on the infamous calumny
by which the Democratic party came into
power
.'Again the party tickled the reformers and
form, and Mr.. Cleveland especially copious
in his promises that one should be discharged
for his politics The Republican party. with
some divisions, had supported, built up and
maintained an excellent civilservice, and. in
the main. had practiced upon the rule that
changes should not be made except for cause.
General Grant had strongly urged this policy
and recommended it's application to all the great
Offices Of the government Congress was not
SO friendly, perhaps, because members
of Congress had large influences
in M
service law was passed during Republican ad-
ministratiOn and some progress was made In
what regard as an important reform WHAT
has been the result under the new admin1stra-
tion2 Our Democratic friends thought that Mr.
Cleveland slow in making removals, but he
has been rapid enough to substantially change
the whole civil service of the government.
Nearly every Office in the foreign service, sub
stantialy the whole official corps iE the vast de-
partments of the Interior. the Treasury ard
Postoffice, and, in the main. the clerks and en-
ployes in the various departments have been
changed during this administration do not
hesitate to say that the service of the govern
ment has been greatly injured thereby.
''When some of these changes were proposed to
the Senate for our confirmation that body respect
fully asked the President for his reasons for the
change. In my judgment the President made
grave mistake and departure from his promises
when he did not promptly and fairly state to
the Senate the causes OF removal IN each case
He would have set an example which would
have been followed by his successors and would
have placed the civil service of the government
upon a proper basis A reason stated by him to
the Senate would have been received and acted
upon with the respect due to his position. but
instead of that. he refused to give his reasons
and this left coordinate department OF the
government to conclude either that he was
insincere in his pretense that he made no
removals except for cause, or that he regarded
that declaration as made in Pickwickian sense,
to be in force when he wanted it and of no &C.
count when he did not want it. And now L
think can fairly say in view of the experiences
had, that President Cleveland has not observed
his pledge to supper. either the rule of civil SER
vice in his appointments. or to sustain the Civil
service Commission in its recommendations
"What else can be said in favor of this admin
istration? The highest compliment it has
received is that it has not been as bad was exc
pected. 1t has not stopped the rain and sun
shine, the ordinary course OF the crops. or tho
ebb and flow of business. 1t has not been able
to repeal the Republican laws upon which our
industries rest. take 1t that this is because we
still have Republican Senate. and Democrat
ic House of Representatives has never yet been
able to agree upon any political measure"